Δελτίο Τύπου

“Auto Zeitung” readers in Germany vote for Opel ADAM as the number one city car

Hat-trick for the Ampera: third successive victory in electric vehicle category

Opel Mokka takes third place in affordable SUV segment

Rüsselsheim/Duesseldorf. Opel has scored a resounding victory in the 25th “Auto Zeitung” readers’ choice awards. The new chic, urban ADAM conquered their hearts and won the popular “Auto Trophy” in the city car segment. At the same time, the Opel Ampera has now completed a hat-trick after the revolutionary sedan emerged as the winner in the electric vehicle category. The Opel Mokka was also voted a runner-up (third place) in the class of affordable SUVs under 30,000 euro. More than 110,000 participants who took part in this competition open to the general public chose their favorites in thirty different categories. Four-hundred vehicle models could be selected by the voters.

The charming ADAM has taken the automotive scene by storm and won by a wide margin against its main competitors in the newly created city car category. With 30 percent of the votes cast, ADAM consigned the VW Up and the Skoda Citigo to second and third place (26.3 and 8.9 percent respectively). The Ampera, which has established itself as a serial winner, also scored a convincing victory. It beat premium segment competitors such as the Mercedes SLS AMG electric drive (15.2 percent) and the Audi R8 e-tron (14.9) with a margin of at least four percent.

Vice President Strategy, Dr Thomas Sedran accepted the awards on behalf of Opel in the presence of 250 guests at the Duesseldorf Classic Remise. Sedran was delighted by the Opel’s best performance at the Auto Trophy award for a decade

“Our winning cars, ADAM, Ampera and the Mokka, represent three strong personalities that really stand out from the crowd. All the three are of strategic importance for Opel because they are representative of forward-looking mobility which is not just environmentally sound but is fun and makes innovative technologies affordable.”

Opel ADAM: urban customization champion

With ADAM that has been available to order since October, Opel is opening up the growing A-segment with a chic, urban city car. The ADAM which measures just 3.70 meters and is a nimble three-door car offers more than 30,000 exterior customization options. This makes him a true champion of customization. Inside the car four people enjoy a relatively generous cabin space. The interior can be personalized according to individual tastes with a large array of colors, decors and stylish headliners and lighting effects. Furthermore, ADAM offers premium technologies that are usually only to be found in upper vehicle segments. These include the all-new IntelliLink onboard infotainment system that makes ADAM the best-connected small car. Additionally, ADAM is the only vehicle in its segment which not only has been developed in Germany but is also being built there (at the Eisenach plant).

Opel Ampera: only electric vehicle that can drive anywhere, anytime

The Opel Ampera is by far the top-selling electric vehicle in Germany and across Europe.

A 16 kWh lithium ion battery powers the 111kW/150 hp electric motor inside the “Car of the Year 2012”. Depending on the style of driving and road conditions, distance of between 40 and 80 kilometers can be covered in the purely battery-operated mode, completely free of emissions. The wheels of the Ampera are always powered electrically. In extended-range mode, which activates whenever the battery has reached its minimum state of charge, the 1.4 liter gasoline engine with 63 kW/86 hp drives a generator that supplies the electric drive unit. The range extender enables an operating radius of 500 kilometers, without the need to stop for a battery re-charge.

Auto Trophy and Quality Trophy 2012: Mercedes-Benz wins awards for best quality and best cars

The readers of “Auto Zeitung” magazine have voted the Mercedes SLS AMG Roadster the best cabriolet with a price of more than 30,000 euros and have chosen the coupé version the best super sports car. This means both cars repeated their victories from last year. Mercedes-Benz also won the Quality Trophy 2012, which was awarded for best quality and dependability. The award ceremony was held last night in front of an audience of prominent figures.

More than 110,000 “Auto Zeitung” readers participated in the 25th poll to rank the best cars of the year and again put the Mercedes-Benz SLS on top of the winner podium twice. This was the fourth consecutive victory for the gullwing coupé in the super sports car category. The SLS Roadster won for the second time in the segment of cabriolets with a price of more than 30,000 euros. The super sports car owes the double victory to its unique high-tech combination of aluminium body, AMG 6.3-litre V8 front mid-engine producing 420 kW (571 hp) of power, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and agile sports suspension with aluminium double wishbone axles. The SLS AMG Coupé and Roadster score further points in their favour with their fascinating styling reminiscent of the legendary 300 SL of the 1950s.
Mercedes-Benz also won the Quality Trophy 2012. This prize is awarded jointly by “Auto Zeitung” magazine and the Gesellschaft für Technische Überwachung (GTÜ or Association for Technical Inspection) for best quality and dependability. This top-class award is based on the results of some eight million general technical inspections conducted by GTÜ, the findings from the “Auto Zeitung” quality and service report and the readers’ responses that reflect their personal practical experiences.

“Auto Trophy 2012”: triple success for BMW.

“Auto Zeitung” readers vote for the new BMW 3 Series and the
BMW 1 Series Convertible as their favourites. The BMW 5 Series print campaign wins the “Best Advertising” category.

Munich. In the “Auto Trophy 2012”, the new BMW 3 Series was chosen as the most popular mid-range automobile, while the BMW 1 Series Convertible came out top in the “Convertibles up to 30,000 euros” category. The “Best Advertising” award also went to BMW – here readers of the automobile magazine “Auto Zeitung” showed a clear preference for the BMW 5 Series Touring campaign. The outstanding BMW result was rounded off with numerous other top 3 placements for the BMW 5 Series, the BMW 6 Series Gran Coupé, the BMW 7 Series and the BMW X1.

The award ceremony for the “Auto Trophy 2012” was held yesterday at the Meilenwerk in Düsseldorf. Representing the Munich-based premium automobile manufacturer and there to receive the trophies presented by TV host Barbara Schöneberger and “Auto Zeitung” editor-in-chief Volker Koerdt were BMW AG Head of Development, Dr. Herbert Diess, and Ian Robertson, Head of BMW Sales and Marketing.

Class victory in the “Auto Trophy” is the second renowned award for the new BMW 3 Series within a very short period of time, coming just a few weeks after it received the “Golden Steering Wheel” from “Bild am Sonntag” and “Auto Bild”. We presented the first BMW 3 Series in July 1975 – and the concept has remained unique ever since: a compact body featuring elegant design, powerful modern engines, classic rear-wheel drive and sporty suspension settings. Today’s award is especially pleasing for us, confirming as it does that the new BMW 3 Series continues to perpetuate its success story in the model’s sixth generation,” said Dr. Herbert Diess, BMW AG Head of Development.

The new BMW 3 Series Sedan has been on sale worldwide since February 2012 and offers not only impressive athletic flair and efficiency as is typical of BMW but also a level of ride comfort and space which has been further optimised as compared to its predecessor model. Sporty, elegant lines and a re-interpretation of the characteristic front view give the BMW 3 Series an unmistakable appearance. The current model program includes five petrol and five diesel engine versions as well as the BMW ActiveHybrid 3. The intelligent all-wheel drive system xDrive is available for four models. The new BMW 3 Series Touring was also successfully launched in September. 31.4 per cent of “Auto Zeitung” readers voted for the BMW 3 Series as the top-ranking car in the mid-range category, putting it clearly ahead of the rest.

The BMW 1 Series Convertible established its lead in the “Convertibles up to 30,000 euros” category with a share of 22.5 per cent of votes cast. “We are very pleased to see that the BMW 1 Series Convertible has gone down so well with Auto Zeitung readers, now winning for the fourth time,” said Dr. Diess.

The third award for “Best Advertising” was received by Ian Robertson, Head of BMW Sales and Marketing. This went to the BMW brand campaign “Dynamic performance starts in the mind”. This cross-media campaign offers a novel interpretation of dynamic performance. Emotional visual worlds are presented to create a logical, harmonious connection between apparently contrasting themes. For BMW, dynamic performance means not just dynamic driving but also a dynamic and timeless way of thinking. The Munich-based creative agency Interone was responsible for the campaign, while the German print version was produced by Serviceplan, Hamburg.

The “Auto Trophy” was awarded for the 25th time this year. Over 110,000 “Auto Zeitung” readers took part in the vote, choosing their favourites from almost 400 current models in 30 categories.

Three wins for Audi at Auto Trophy 2012

Audi A1, A6 and Q5 win in their class

Around 100,000 readers voted on their favorites from 400 models

Three Audi models won through against the competition this year in the “Auto Trophy 2012”. Just under 100,000 readers of German automobile magazine “Autozeitung” voted the Audi models A1, A6 and Q5 number one in their class.

One of the most coveted awards in the automotive industry, the Auto Trophy ceremony took place for the 25th time today. The winners with their awards were presented today during a gala event at the Classic Remise Düsseldorf, a center for vintage cars, with some 250 guests from business, politics and society in attendance.

Around 100,000 “Autozeitung”readers chose the Audi A1 by a wide margin (36.4 percent of the vote) in the small car category. This successful model was also introduced as a five-door Sportback version this year. The Audi A6, which comes as a sedan or Avant in many engine and transmission variants, was victorious (18.5 percent) in the full-size class. Wolfgang Dürheimer, Head of Technical Development of AUDI AG: “We are proud of the A6 as its on-board systems demonstrate our technology expertise – the multimedia and assistance systems are perfect examples.”

First place (16.2 percent) in the SUVs over 30,000 euros category went to the Audi Q5, which is also available as a hybrid. Rupert Stadler, Head of the Board of Management of AUDI AG: “The success story of the Audi Q5 continues. From 2016 we will manufacture up to 150,000 units annually in our new factory in Mexico – to Audi quality standards.”

Readers had the choice of 400 models in 29 categories. For the brand with the four rings, this is already its 53rd prize in the award’s history.

Porsche 911 Carrera and Panamera win “Auto Trophy”

Top ranks for Porsche in important reader survey

Stuttgart. The success story of the Porsche 911 Carrera goes on. Now, the readers of Auto Zeitung were also convinced. The innovative sports car was recognised as the best car in its class on the occasion of the 25th “Auto Trophy” award. This is the 19th time, making the Porsche 911 the most successful car in the history of the “Auto Trophy”. Also high on the podium at this year’s readers’ choice of Auto Zeitung is the four-door Gran Turismo by Porsche AG. The Panamera came first in the luxury-car category. Three further second places in their respective classes for the Porsche 911 Cabriolet, the 911 Turbo, and the Cayenne round off this success story. Matthias Müller, President and CEO of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, accepted the prize for the Porsche 911 Carrera in Düsseldorf, presented by Volker Koerdt, Chief Editor of Auto Zeitung. Wolfgang Hatz, Member of the Executive Board Research and Development, accepted the award for the Panamera.

Around 111,000 readers of Auto Zeitung in Germany took part in the vote. There was a total of 400 vehicles in 29 classes to choose from. The Porsche 911 Carrera won the sports car category by a wide margin to the closest competitors.